Exiles Annual Screening Camp a Great Success

67 young players, vying for places in next season's Exiles U17, U18, & U19 XVs, and indeed hoping to emulate the 14 who played for Ireland age-group XVs last season, attended the annual Camp.

...Some of the Exiles Players to have been capped at age grades for Ireland this season...

67 young players, vying for places in next season's Exiles U17, U18, & U19 XVs, and indeed hoping to emulate the 14 who played for Ireland age-group XVs last season, attended the annual Camp at Brunel University, West London, on 30 June & 1 July past.

The IRFU battery of fitness tests was undertaken by all and it is just as well that players come prepared for such an event as the temperature rose above 30 degrees on the Saturday!

The field sessions were highly successful, not least because of the excellent inputs from IRFU staff such as Brian McLaughlin( National Skills Coach) and Graeme Steadman (National Defence Coach), provincial academy staff Colin McEntee, Richie Murphy, Ian Costello and Patrick Collins, and led by the Exiles Head Coach Peter Halsall, assisted by Danny Lyons. Compliments have been abounding, since the Camp, from players and parents, about the outstanding quality of coaching provision. Furthermore, the overall quality of player at the Camp continues to improve and a number of young men have already put down a marker for potential Ireland selection.

The field sessions were interspersed by relevant talks i.e. 'sports psychology for the young player','injury prevention' and 'rugby & education' (the latter for parents as well as players), to illustrate what we like to consider is the caring approach to the young player i.e. there's more to our modus operandi than just your ability as a player.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.